UK Caravan holiday’s, affordable fun or the pits?

[Slowdownyouredoingfine]

My (young) kids love them. Lots for them to do, most affordable way to get away during the school holidays. I went a lot as a kid and always had fun so it might be a bit of nostalgia for me, but some people seem to hate them. A lot of judgment around the type of people that go (some truth to that.) What do you think? Are they that bad? 🤣 Would/Have you gone on one?

We did but I do absolutely hate the cramped rooms and tiny beds. Loved the location and everything at the one we went to last year in Woolacombe but just didn’t sleep very welll for 4 nights 🤣

As an adult, I’d rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick.

However for young children there is a nice degree of outdoorsy freedom they can enjoy, for which I would tolerate it (if I had to).

I imagine your fellow campers will vary by site…

Love them as do my kids, we like having a range of different holidays, from self catering exploring holidays abroad, to euro camps, all inclusive abroad, but there is def a place for uk caravan holidays and our kids love them. We try and do at least one weekend away in a caravan a year

Oh we love camping too! I think of it as, we can either do a couple of Caravan holidays and a couple of camping trips a year or have an abroad holiday and at the ages my kids are now I’m 90% sure they’d prefer the former!

@MidnightPatrol No I would also never book to go on an adult only trip!!

We love them, go at least a couple of times a year usually back to our favourite site and try a new one. The type of people who go? Fleece wearing, binoculars round the neck, slightly muddy, windswept and sand in our hair, happy noisy kids running about playing sports outside, that sort of thing is us for sure but I don't mind that. and I love that I can just let the kids be free and not worry about things and just enjoy nature and the beach. We've always had really comfy caravans where we stay and the kids get their own rooms which they don't at home, and we usually get the ones with two bathrooms too. It's much better than all squeezing into a hotel room. We love it. Used to do a lot of camping pre-kids so caravan parks feel like a luxury upgrade to us though!

We do one weekend a year as my son loves it - I don't love it but it's for him and he gets a lot out of it!

All depends on the weather. We went to a site that had a beautiful pool and restaurant once when I was a child, in Cornwall, but it rained every day except one. We had some good days out exploring the area though.

Probably better to hire a mobile home rather than a caravan. Much bigger, and much better if you end up staying in due to rain!

If it’s good weather and you go somewhere with stunning beaches and places to go, like Cornwall, I think it could be great.

I've owned a tourer and have also rented Caravans on sites owned by Haven, Parkdean etc.. I wouldn't do touring again if you paid me. With the statics I would say book the best accommodation you can afford and have less occupants than places to sleep so you're not too crowded (quite often one of the beds is a sofa bed and not very comfortable ).Some of the largest sites have double width caravans. The last one we booked with Haven had an ensuite bedroom larger than the one at home, a bath in the main bathroom, a washer dryer and dishwasher.

I think it might depend a lot on the site and what is provided.

When DD was about 4 we went to one for a long BH weekend. BIL/SIL had taken their kids to a few caravan places and had a good time so we decided to give it a go.

Unfortunately the site we chose turned out to be a bit shit really. Very little on the site and the so-called "children's entertainment" in the evening pretty poor. It was advertised as starting at 7pm so we thought OK, eat dinner and go for an hour before putting DD to bed. In fact, although the place opened and started serving drinks at 7pm, there were no plans for this entertainment to start until 9pm. Way too late for our DD at that age so we gave up waiting.

We did a few times when the kids were younger but only in big caravans with 2 bathrooms! Can’t cope with 5 of us sharing one little shower room.

Love them, we always have a great time even if the weather is shit. Great for small children, mine have all really enjoyed them

@FloofBunny I agree. We went to one last year when the weather was great with an outside pool and a park and the restaurant all right next to each other. It was the perfect child/parent happiness combination.

We are lucky enough to go on a whole range of holidays home and abroad but I genuinely think the kid’s favourite is our four days at a caravan park as soon as they break up for summer.

I remember watching a documentary about Colleen Rooney. She said they’d been on holiday all over to the world’s most luxurious resorts but her children’s favourite ever holiday was Butlins.

We got to Haven every year.. Adult dd's still love coming and now bring bf's..
We don't do any of the evening entertainment things though. Swimming and some of the paid pre booked activities..
Early to bed and pool first thing when it's very quiet!We also take full food shopping and meal plan. Cash is for amusement arcade and sweets /Millie 's cookie shop!
Booked 2 caravans next to each other last year and had a great time.. Booking for this year also.

We love them, generally do one every year either during Easter hols or October half term. DS is 5 and loves the play parks, swimming pool and entertainment. We are planning to have a European AI/HB holiday most years too to make sure we get some proper sunshine as the weather on our UK breaks can be unpredictable! We like Haven as great activities/ents and also go to the John Fowler one in Croyde as I’ve been going there since I was a child.

We're looking at one for May half term...only ever done them abroad before (DC love them).

Does anyone have any good recommendations in the South/South West. DC care more about the pool/sports type stuff than any evening entertainment.

I’m in Seal Bay in Selsey at the moment for an event and it’s actually such a nice site!
I wouldn’t really have considered coming to a caravan park for a UK holiday but seeing the facilities here I am reconsidering.

Why do you all go to bed early?!

Id rather go to work unpaid for a week than spend a week on a uk caravan holiday.

Always look at privately owned caravans on the sites. Ukcaravans4hire is just one website to search and book. Usually better quality inside and better spots on the sites owned by haven and others.

I'd never book directly with haven etc now after using the private ones.

Great when you have small children but not much space in the caravans once they get older.

I’ve not stayed in a tourer. I’ve done camping and statics.

Though I wouldn’t say they are cheap these days unless your going bare essentials.

I looked at a campsite earlier this year that has nothing at all apart from showers, toilets, sinks and electric hook up. It was £660 for a week that’s there price peak or not peak. Looked at a fancy place and was getting near 1k for a tent pitch.

Our haven holiday in a “gold” static is coming in at over 2k for a week as well. Cheerful but not cheap.

I did one last year and honestly, we were both bored and very underwhelmed. There wasn't enough to do and it just seemed a bit like being at home, but away. The caravan itself was OK. The bed was lovely, really comfortable (odd to go on about that, but it was amazing!).

It was near a few beaches so that was nice. But other than that, I wasn't overly impressed. The on site pub was eye wateringly expensive for what it was and there wasn't really a cafe culture sort of scene in the town. Also no particularly enticing places for eating out in the evening, which meant that we had to cook.

I wouldn't do it again.